Sterilizer and valve.



No. 824,827. PATENTBU JULY 3, 1906.--

H. w. SHONNARD.' sTBRILIzBR AND uns.; APPLICATION FILED JULYS. 190KK A @@Mob:

I No. 324,827.

PATENTED JULY 3, l906. H. W'. SHONNABD. STERILIZER AND VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED JULYB. 19'05.

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UNITED smiles PATENT FFlCE.

STERlLlZER AND VALVE.

No.,824,s27.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 3, 1906.

Application filed July 8, 1905. Serial No. 268,812.

To all whom it may concern-r Be it known that I, HAROLD W. SHONNARD,

v a citizen of th'e United States, residing in East inner rim at t ported on a leg 6.

' the Bunseii 'tube 8, Which is supplied Withkgasw Orange, county of Essex, and State of N ew.

Jersey, have invented certain new and use- Improvements 1n Sterihzers and `Valves,

vofwhich the lfollowing is a specification.

This inventiii has relation to an improved valve for apparatus used in the sterilization of all kinds of`articles but more particularly for apparatus intended for the steam-stem' lization of surgical dressings, &c,

l The principal objectof this invention is the provision. of a chea compact, and simple orm of universal a ve for accomplishing the various functions hitherto carried out in an apparatus of this kind by a number of different valves. The invention is illustrated in a preferred form in the accompanying drawings, Where- 1n f Figure 1 is a vertical median section of the sterilizing apparatus on the plane :z: in Fig.

2. iFig. 2 1s an end elevation'of'the same.

Fic'.

3 is a horizontal section showing the details of the door on the plane y y in Fig. 2,.

Fig. a is a perspective .view of a portion o? the e front or open end 'of the a params. Fig. 5 is a detailed -vieW of a modi ed form of capable of use with'this device, and Fig. 1s a vertical median section of the .valve in its relation to the various parts of the sterilizer. l

My improved sterilizer comprises an inner chamber 1, surrounded by. two- ,concentric cylindrical chambers, lone outside of the .other, as shown at 2 and. The' chamber 2 surrounds the inner chamber 1 not only on its cylindrical surface, but at the back, Where the whole structure is supported by a heavy metal rino 4.' A corresponding ring 5 suports the Forward end of the structure and af.- ords the necessary attachment for the various sheet-metal 'coverings for the concentricchambers. The Whole apparatusis supbe termed the steam chamber and in operation contains a body of Water, as shown in the drawings, which maybe heated by any desired means-as for instance, by the live-steam coil 7. Itis preferred, however, to 'heat the chamber 2 and its contents by means of gas-jets underneath the same,'as'illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein the flames issue from o rices on the upper side of The chamber 2 may from the pipe 9 and air Which mixes there-|` with as it enters the flaring opening 10. By use of this heating means the hotgases are made to entirely surround the steam chame ber 2issuing by openings l1 at the top of the heating-chamber 3. The Water to be used inI the boiler or steam-chamber can be poured .in through the funnel 12 when the valve 13 is open. It can be drawn oli by the pipe 14 at the bottom ofthe chamber.

The innermost chamber 1 campe-fitted up in any desired manner to receive the articles to be sterilized, and for this purpose l have shown a simple tray 15 near the bottom ci' the chamber 1. The closing of the sterilizer after insertion of the dressings or other articles to be treated is accomplished by means of a rotating and swinging board 16, furnished With a handle 17.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, a circular edge 18 ofthe door is intended to be firmly pressed against a proper packing 19, set into an appropriete circular groove in the end supporting-ring 5. This rcssure is obtained by means of spirally-p aced ribs 20 on the door, which coperate with similarly-inclined interior ribs 21 and 22 Within the ring 5.

As shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, the inclined rib 21 occupies a semicircle placed Within the lower half ofthe ring 5, while the corresponding inclined rib 22 occupies the upper semicircle Within the ring 5. carried by a strong exterior lever 23, pivofed, as at 24, to 'the side of the ring 5. Fig. 3 shows the door open,' and Fig.. l shows it wvhen iirst brought into closing position.

The door having been broughtinto the clos-- ing position shown inl Fig. 1, complete closure is effected by Swingin the handle 17 from the position shown 1n iill lines in Figs'. 1 and 2 around to the position shown-'in dotted lines in Fig. With the door in the position shown in Fig. I the tip 20a ofthe lower spiral rib r20'on the door occupies the positionv shown at the opening 21a between the two ribs 21 and 22. sponding tip of the other spiral rib 20 occupies a corresponding position'diametrically opposite. Fig. 3 shows that a gate lor opening similar to the one shown at 21a invFig. 4 is provided on each side of the ring 5. ribs 20, 21, and 22 all being inclined alike, it follows that when the handle 17 is revolved, as heretofore described, the ribs 2O on the door Will slide against the inner inclined'surfaces vof the ribs 2] and 22 and will be forced Of course the corree.

The dooritself is The by these latter ribs to move inward or toward f the .right in 1. This will of course force i the whole door inward, bringing the edge 1S tightly againfgt the packint` 1i) and effectuall. sealing thtx chamber 1 in amanner to resist gre-ctt pressures from Within. In order to accommodate the rectilinear inward movement of the door 16 as a :whole with its pivotal mounting, the door is carried by a stout spindle 25, deeply threaded on a steep pitch and shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the pitch corresponding to the inclination of the ribs 20, 21, and 22. This spindle passes through an l appri'ipriate sleeve 25, provided width means cooperating with the thread in the spindle for causing relativ? movement between the door and said sleeve. This means preferably takes the form of a pin 27 of proper diameter screwed in-through the sleeve, so that its tip enters the space between. two successive ccnvolutions of the thread on the spindie 25. A knob is preferably fixed to the end oi the spindle 25 to facilitate drawing the door open when desired. v

It clear that-"the arrangement just described permits of rectilinear movement in and out or the door 16 without any corresponding movement of the lever 235 and so prevents any danger of jamming during operation, while also permitting an accurate close fit between the ribs 2() and 21, 22. Vlithout means for permitting such independent movement, ofthe door` it is obvious that a lever, such as 23, pivoted as at `2l, would lai'l'ord an element of distnrlmnce which would make it difli'cult or impossible to procure the perfect sealing of the apparatus.

in Fig. 5 i. have shown a modification of theA mode of mounting the lever 23, which may be used instead .of the `term or appa atus shown in 1. and 3 but this latter is pre ierred, as it obviates the necessity of automatic aceomniodation in themovement-ol' the lever 23. The modifica-tionshown-in Fig. 5 comprises a mounting composed of a link 2), pivoted, as at 3l), to the ring 5, which link is pivoted at 31 to the extremity of the lever 23. it is obvious that by use el an intermediate' link 29, as shown in Fig. 5, rectilinear lmotion oli the door 16 is possible without jamming, since the lever 23 permitted to auton'latically accommodate itseliE to the inward and outward movement ol' the door.-

l; do not claim theimprovcd door hitherto described per se in. this application, as this ha been n'xadc the subject-matter of a divisional application.

in operating the l'orm oi' stcrilizcr shown thus i'ar it is desirable to admit the hot steam p only'aiter a prclin'linary exhaustion olEA the innermost chamber 1, whereby the air contained in the dressings or other articles to be sterilized is removedto give place to the incoming steam. For producing this eil'cct sterilizors have been hitherto use@ wlicroii-i the number oi Valves and pipes ol greater or vless complication worincccssary. lt is the principal object of this invernion to provide a compact, single, and sinnply-operated valve con'lbination lor producing all the operations nccr-issary in using the apparatusherein described. For this purpos(l l employ a valvebody 32,pro\idod with a vertical .-'tm 33, which is inserted in the lop oi' the sierilizer, as shown in Figs. l and (i. passing through the chambers and 2V and reaching he top of the innermost chamber 1. The body :rl is provided with a chamber Il-i. closed at one end bythe :rap 35 and at the other end by the cap 36, which forms the exterior section or member of an exhaust-valve. safety blow-oil 37 and the gage 38 are screwed into the top of the body 32 and connnunicatc with the main chamber 34. The stem '33 extends upward into the middle ol' the chamber 234, being provided with two opposite passages 3Q and 40. The passage 59 terminates at its lower end in a small pipe #t 1, which lies within the chamber 2, as shown in Figs.. v1 and 3, and is carried around, so as toenterthe chamber l near the bottom thereor andnn'der the tray 1'5. The upperextreniity of the pas'- sage 39 terminates in the valve -seat v42'. The passage opens at its lower end into the' steamspace ol' the chamber 2, and at its upper end there is provided an injector-nozzle 43, passing intothe hollow cap 36 and forming therewith an. eihiaii'st-jet of well-known character. At thc outer extremity ot this exhaust-jet there is plaeeda proper valve 44, which can be opened and closed by means of the 'handle 45. The upper end of' the opening 3S) can be closed byk a valve of any desired description; but I prefer the 'l'orni of valve shown wherein a st out rod 46 of proper diameter is shaped at its tip to supply the valve and isV supplied with a thread of steep pitch, as sliownat 47, passing through an appropriate boss on the cap 35. An appropriate handle 48de 'lixed lo the outer end of the rod 4G, and by giving this handle a half-turn the valve 42 can be opened or closed at will. At the lower end of the spindle 33 the passage 39is continued into a valve-chanibef/JCQ, wherein there is placed an automatic cl'ieckevalve 50, control- IOO lingI the entrance 51 vinto the innermost chamber 1. In the position shown in Fig. 6 this valve permits passage oi air upward Qu t of the chamber 1, through the passage 51 and the perforation 52, through the right flanges on the 'puppet-valve 50.

'l`he-oporation of the double valve shown in Fig, 6 vis as follows: Yvren thedressings have been properly, placed within the sterilizcr and the door has been closed, the heating of the water .and steam in 'the chamber 2 beingssinnedtohave been accomplished,

the valvef'handle 48 is at first in the position shown at Fig. 2, so that communication between thepassagejl and theehamber 34 1s closed. In this condition the valve 44 being closed, theA gage 38 will indicate the pressure of steam existing in' the chamber 2. The pressure being brought to a proper point, the valve 44 is opened, and the valve-lever 48 is set diametrically opposite. to the position shown in Fig. 2. The steam rushing through the jettube 43 and out to the open air will thus exhaust the air from the chamber 1 through the pipe 41, the opening 51, and passage 39. As soon as the gage indicates the propel' degree of exhaustion the valve 44 is closed without changing the position of the handle 48. The steam will at once back up through the passa e 39, closing the automatic valve 50, so t at the steam will be obliged to pass through the pipe 41 to fill the chamber 1. It will be noted that during exhaustion the air is drawn out of the chamber 1 both from top and bottom. This of course supplies a double outlet and produces quicker action. When the steam is admitted, however, I prefer to cause it to enter from below, because the first steam that ent-ers is apt to be wet, and for this reason should not come in direct contact with the objects to be sterilized. By bringing the steam up under the tray 15 any moisture produced by condensation rathers at the bottom otthe chamber, and tie steam which .reaches .the dressings is dry. I/Vhen the dressings have beensubjected to the hot steam for a suiiicient length of time, the valve 44 is opened. .The steam is immediately Withdrawn by the ejector action produced by the jet 43. The continued action of-said ejector will thereupon again create a vacuum within the chamber 1 and indicate same by the reverse action of the combination-gage 38. In this manner the moisture Within the chamber is rapidly evaporated, andthe dressings may be thoroughly dried before removal from the steriliZing-chamber. The valve-lever 48 is then turned back to the original positioiyas shown in Fig. 2. The valve 44 is closed and the air-cock 52 on the door 16 is then opened, which will release the vacuum within the chamber 1,

whereupon the door 16 may be opened and the dressings removed.

A number of changes may be made in my improved device without departn vg fro. .i my

invention, and I am not zto be understood as limiting myself to the details herein shown and described.

What I cl aim is- 1. In a sterilizer, a steam-chamber, a sterilizing-chamber, a valve-chamber, a pipe lead-Y ing from said steam-chamber' to said Valvechamber, an ejector-nozzle at the end of said pipe Within said chamber, an exterior valve for said valve-chamber opposite said nozzle,

a second pipe leading from said valve-chamber to said sterilizing-chamber and a valve controlling communication between said- A scribed.

3. In a sterilizer, a sterilizing-chamber, a steam-chamber surrounding the same, a valve-chamber having an extension passing through the steam-chamber and abutting at the top of the sterilizing-chamber, said extension being provided with two passages opening on opposite sides into said steamchamber and a pipe contained Within said steam-chamber and leading from one of said passages to the bottom of said sterilizingchamber, substantially as described.

4. In a sterilizer, a sterilizivng-chamber, a

steam-chamber surrounding the same, a

valve-chamber having an extension passing through the steam-chamber and abutting at the top f the steriliZing-chamber, said eX- tension eing provided with two passages one of which opens into said steam-chamber and the other of which opens into the top of the steriliZing-chamber, an automatic one- Way valve in said last-narned opening and a y pipe leading from the latter of said two passages to the bottom ofthe sterilizing-chamber, substantially as described.

l vHAROLD W. SHONNARD. Witnesses:

HAROLD S. MACKAYE, FLORENCE S. PECK. 

